Bill Babler

At times using a LiveScope can be the kiss of death. Kind of like spending to much time trying to catch bed fish that won’t bite. It’s also extremely intriguing watching it and seeing the world below. You get caught up in time. It reminds me of using a buzz bait, you know it’s not working but you just can’t put it down. I was playing yesterday in some deep pole timber that had fish hanging at the 15’ mark. As the bait drops to them, they take off for the bottom. They also run at it then turn off at the last second or just sit there inches from the bait and watch it. After an hour of this Bull I just went back to flat gravel and started winding a 2.8 and catching fish. Didn’t see a single one I caught. Thanks for letting me visit guys, it’s always a pleasure to talk to you.

Anybody tells us the spawn is over in mid-April is full of Fueey. Those guys fishing up the river are catching prespawn LM by the bucketful People want to start it to quick and end it way way to quickly. Since the 90’s I’ve caught spawning spotted bass in the Shell Knob Kings River area, clear into the last week of May first week of June. Seems like it always goes LM, SM, K’s but I might be rethinking as the number of LM they’re swinging that haven’t spawned is substantial Good Lord does not put all his eggs in one basket

I believe yesterday Zack Birge said the best bite of the day was over before they even get on the water. Said they should be starting an hour and a half earlier. To your point Jeff.

I have 2 sizes of the Rapala’s and they won’t even think about holding a squirming fish.

Wanted to point out a couple of things. Even an old dog can learn a lot by listening and watching these guys. First off however is great sportsmanship by a local on Beaver this morning offering to vacate a location for Drew Gill. We have great folks here in the Ozarks. Depth of the spawn on both the Rock and Beaver. Drew Gill mentioned he was catching Spawners and fry guarders in 16ft. of water on beds. Not uncommon on the Rock either if locations dictate it. Pete Wenners mentioned on his TR report this week he was catching big K’s dragging a Hardhead /Wobblehead in 16’ to 20’ something deep. I had a person ask a question on TR this week about catching small K’s. Move out is the answer. My two best Spotted bass days the last two weeks are out of deep trees topping at 25’ and catching them on the bottom out of shad schools in 40’. They also mentioned this morning that the spotted bass were very hard to catch as they had seen it all. The SM were easier to trick into biting as They were more aggressive

I’ve tried those grippers. Becky bought me two sizes and I cannot hold a fighting fish with them. what grippers are you using and does it work well?

All I can say is WOW🤩🤩🤩. That’s fantastic. So glad it’s happening for you. Send me a PM of where you live and I’ll come by and help you out. 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪😂😂 Your making my Big SM Bite look pretty common.

Thanks much. Really appreciate it.

Guy’s I’ve only fished Beaver under 50 times. I’ve heard 3 Pro’s saying it fishes really small. Ott De’foe and Jacob Wheeler to mention 2. They said they are all over each other. Iv’e pretty much fished the dam. What are they talking about? I will say thanks to Banks Shaw I’m putting the flutter spoon in the boat for TR.

Jeff might be a better person to address that to as he is up there probably the most. I haven’t fished past Emerald Beach in a couple of months, but I will tell you between Campbell point and Cedar creek, in the last 10 days I’ve caught 100 plus keeper K’s. As most of you know I’m not for the most part a go down a bank guy. The spotted bass I’ve caught are prespawn and deep. I really think how a person fishes plays a role on size and numbers. I love to catch spotted bass in the 12plus inch size they fight well and I enjoy catching them. I just most often target the bigger ones and most of them live off shore. The spotted bass on TR and Beaver are just not totally up yet as you saw yesterday if you watched MLF. The SM are still spawning on both lakes. The Spots will start showing up really quickly. Now they are sitting out there waiting.

Ya, the Bow guys have been out up here at SK the last several nites. Man those lights are bright. They illuminate our entire subdivision from dark to morning light.

Just heard one guy say if he can catch 5 more 1.8 pound fish in the next 5 hours he would be happy. That’s not a ringing endorsement for the lake .

If your watching here is what your going to get on TR within 3-5 years. Yep, let’s start killing all the 12” bass so we can catch 10” bass With the amount of forage we have here it’s totally lunacy to kill all these young fish. And we sure as H-ll know they are not dying before they get to 15”. Head scratcher at best.

Beautiful SM. I lost 5 fish again today. I’ve had the Drop-See’s. Eric told me they were on a Glider, on windy banks. If he says it I’m throwing it.

Nope on the TV, but you can watch it online at MLF Now. Starts at 7:30. I always like the initial interview and the Full Send.

Started with the neighbor at 6:08 and quit around 11. Fished a couple mile stretch of Gravel with the Breeze on it. Great morning. Neighbor had 5 keepers with this very long K. And I had I believe 7. KGB Glide Bait got bit 3 times, 2 by Jaws and one by a really good Largie that thru it back at me. Caught most on the little swimmer and a mini-tube. Could only fish the tube in select areas as the moss is still a pain.

Yep, that me. 🤣🤣🤣

Wanted to check out the dam area as I’ve not fished it much since I moved to SK. On the water at 6:00 to a beautiful sunrise. Wanted to see if the MLF guys left any fish between the dam and KC. BY GOLLY, they left a few. Started the morning with a 6th. Sense Speed Wake and put 3 keeper Jaws in the boat and a short LM. Now the sad part I was Horsing a really nice LM, I’m guessing 4 pounds or so and of course it pulled off. I immediately got hit again and I’m assuming it was the male as it was in the exact same spot. Maybe 2.5 pounds. Jumped up and spit it right back at me. Wind got up and I put the wake bait down and picked up the little swimmer. It was an onslaught. These fish were there when the MLF guys were here it just amazes me they had no idea where they live on TR These SM had not spawned and were all over windy gravel. Only caught 1 that had spawned. Boat in 15’ most of the morning and I actually got tired of catching them. I most always glue up my a Keitech’s the day before and I’ve got a mess to clean up. From other reports sounds like fishing was good today. Get out there while it’s still going on boys. Good Luck.

Your on Buddy, way to go. Nice LM.

Nice. Beautiful LM

I expected them to be on top like the day before. I just followed the chow. The day before there were shad schools all over the top. With no weather or pressure change what so ever the shad were either suspended at 26’ or on the bottom at 40’. There were wolf packs of pre spawn BIG K’s crashing them and lying under them. It was pretty clear what had to be done🤪🤪

I’d look for topwater early and depending on water color and bottom composition maybe a crayfish crank or jig. You can try a chatterbait or blade also

They can’t be on Beaver so they are practicing up here and from what I hear several have been spotted on Bull Shoals. It seems the same thing is going to happen on Beaver. Use FFS on deep bed fish in the first period then struggle the last 2 periods. That is unless this rain raises the lake level and colors up the water. Up here they drove past 20 keepers to catch 1. We’ll see if it’s the same with Beaver. It’s going to be a fun watch.

Weight to weigh is 1.8 pounds and the MLF guys are saying full blown spawn on the full moon. They are again saying. Spinnerbait, chatterbait and crank bait Lots of bed fishing also. They were totally wrong on TR and fished it so bad it made the lake look barren. I think the big fish in RedCrest was only 4.10. I’m sure Beaver will top that. The ramps up here are packed with them. Have not seen a single MLF boat on gravel. All on bluffs or steep stuff throwing a chatter.

I haven’t caught any as deep as 15’. I’ve been keeping my boat 15/17 feet. Eric told me to keep the boat in 20’ so I’m probably driving over some. We were in there at 0700, it was my first stop. We had 9 in there and only made a single pass. All prespawn. I’m guessing 4’ to 8’ for most all for me.